How many of you have been asked what is itp

I don't know about you guys but it drives me nuts having to explain it over and over especially to an er doc and nurses I don't think there is enough awareness about itp if a nurse doesnt know then an Emt might not know what itp is in an emergency what can be done to get the word out while I know it's not cancer which has a month dedicated I still think it deserves more awareness. It seems like no one knows of it until they are diagnosed I wish we could get the word out a little more I could just be rambling just a random thought

I understand the general public not knowing, but it does annoy me that hospital staff never know. I always add 'low platelet count' after saying my daughter has ITP when we are at hospital and to the general public I always just say she has a bleeding disorder, which is a lot easier than explaining every time.

I can understand medics not knowing what the letters ITP mean because there are letters for everything in the medical world and they can't know them all. They should however know what Immune Thrombocytopenia means just by hearing the words even if they haven't come across the disorder before. So I just say that to make things easy.

With other people I just say a blood disorder. As grasshopper will know the word 'bleeding' can be taken as a swear word in the UK, I don't know about America, and I feel a bit odd saying it so I tend to avoid it.. LOL.

How funny I never thought of bleeding as a swear word and never hear anyone using it as that and no one has ever said anything when I sat it. I will now think differently every time I say it now. lol

Re "Bleeding" as a curse word -

My grandmother, who was born in Poland, used "cholera" as a curse word....

I used to say "blood doesn't clot" when I had to explain it. Using the word 'blood' sometimes freaks people out - they think it can be contagious. I also never said 'disease'. I didn't tell many people anyway so I rarely felt the need to explain.

Ann - I never knew that about the word 'bleeding'. I have heard the word 'bloody' used in the UK, but it seems to be used casually. Like...."my bloody car won't start". Is that cursing too?

I suppose the word bleeding in the bad context is a bit old fashioned and probably a southern expression. People where I grew up would say "the bleed'n car won't start". I suppose the word bloody might have taken over but neither word is one I'd use in front of my mother!

Wow....how different things are between the two countries. What word would you use to describe a cut that won't stop dripping?

Oh, so in America bloody isn't a swear word? Your right, isn't it odd that bloody and bleeding are both swear words. I would say something is bleeding. Very occassionaly I have said something is bloody, which is fine in that context but I don't like to use it as it sounds like I'm swearing. I will think of this thread every time I explain to anyone now!! Unfortunately, I always seem to be explaining to people as my daughter generally has between 100 and 200 bruises so I get lots of looks from people and lots of questions.

Sandi - I'm not sure about UK, but DO NOT mention 'fanny pack' to anyone from Australia!
Erica

Uh oh. You'll have to PM what that means.

Grasshopper - nope, 'bloody' is just an adjective here.

Ha Ha Erica, so true for us from Oz :silly:

I just tell people I have a platelet problem.

I attended a seminar a few years back involving all the emergency personnel and ham radio operators, and I was sitting next to a Paramedic supervisor so I asked him if he knew what ITP was. He didn't! That sorta shocked me. I told him to look it up. Made me feel good about our Paramedics, too.

I have heard the expression "Bloody hell" used at times.

Since ITP is a somewhat oddball orphan disease, I don't expect people to know what it is. Even healthcare people don't see it or hear about it very often. I just tell them I have a low amount of platelets....why bog folks down with complexities?

As for 'bleedin' this or that.....I must have listened to a lot of UK rock'n'roll over the decades.

My worst gaff when I lived in Australia as a lad of 17 was; I hitch-hiked a few thousand miles....people kept giving me the 'thumbs up' sign....so I'd return it. I just didn't know. I learned a new method to hitch-hike there....point a finger in the direction you want to go....and don't give 'em the thumb.
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hah I like thinking of ITP as a "bleedin' disorder" in the cursing sense.

Recently I had a doctor fill out a health form for a job. She has never treated me for ITP and doesn't know much about it. She wrote on the form that I have a "bleeding disorder and if I am injured even minor injury, I need to get to the doctor immediately"

"Bloody hell!" (in USA I learned that from Monty Python) I don't want my new employer to hear that- I've not had any bleeding in 5 years of ITP! So I had to do a bit of explaining then.

Wow - I'd be afraid that language like that would keep them from hiring me. EOE aside, I've been on the end of reviewing resumes and sometimes they just end up in the trash. Good thing you had it changed!